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We asked your views about a teen who was suspended over some drawings he made of guns.
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 Student Suspended Over Gun Drawing 4/29/08
Santana High School suspended 15-year old Ryan Reynolds after a teacher found a drawings of a gun in the 9th grader's backpack. Sherri Palmeri reports. |
I think it is unfair and uncalled for. I mean, I draw guns at school all the time and they don't say much about it. But I guess some schools teachers have different view about things. - Ivan, Oceanside
Kids in high schools walk around wearing and draw marijuana/alcohol/graffiti-condoning clothing. The child just drew a gun because his parents are fire-arm enthusiasts. His punishment is far too harsh. - Martin, Chula Vista
Missing class is never a good punishment for a student. Shouldn't the school discuss the drawings with the child, and find out why he drew them? - Eddie, SDSU
These pictures should have been drawn and kept at home. School is no place for this, especially in light of all the shootings that have taken place. The suspension is warranted. You nip any possible tragedy in the bud, AND you send a message to other youths to not do the same thing. - Alan, San Diego
Just when I thought going through airport security was overly thorough. It is completely appalling that our public schools seem to pick and choose what they think is appropriate. Maybe they should update a detailed list of what is considered not acceptable. Obviously a suspension as punishment is a complete overreaction. - Craven, Normal Heights
I cannot believe how unconcerned the parents are about their son drawing guns with all the school shootings it is appalling to see parents not respond to their child with some concern. It is sad to see the way parents are showing their children things like guns and not conciously talking with them about the dangers and why the school would be concerned about these drawings. I would have certainly talked with my child and let them know that guns are dangerous and the people who use them do harm and even kill people when they are not used by the right people and let my child know that there are real dangers. The boy even showed himself shooting. That really concerns me and I wouldn't want this child near my child out of concern. That is just my opinion. - Dora, Lemon Grove
I feel that the school did the right thing. It's one thing, the kid drawing the picture of the gun. It's something totally different when the young adult went a step further and drew him shooting someone not only once but twice. We can't be too careful. Sorry the parents don't see that it was a problem. Unfortunately this is the kind of thing we need to step in and not ignore otherwise what type of message are we sending? - Lisa, Escondido
I find the father in your report outrageous. We are living in a time when children are not safe in school and I believe that the school took appropriate steps to keep their students safe. The father needs to be responsible and learn how to raise children properly. "He could be shooting a terrorist." Please. - Johnny, San Diego
I don't see what the big deal is! It's just a drawing! I don't see why it's such a surprise anyway. Almost all the games today are 'shoot-em-up' games. I think the school owes the father and the boy an apology! - Liya, Escondido
Now a drawing of a gun is a crime? Can I be arrested for carring a drawing of a gun? What else can kids not draw? If I draw a picture of a car speeding can I get a moving violation? Where will this stop? - Mark, Lakeside
Thank God this student didn't draw a picture of a bible or a crucifix! - Tony, Carlsbad
As a nearby resident, I am glad any action was taken. Living in Santee there are too many spoiled, undisciplined kids and law enforcement condones their bad behavior out here! I had a very expensive case of vandalism, with a witness and license plate number, but was told "Oh, they are a student at Santana!" Big deal - what do you want to do? Wait until daddy leaves the gun out and the son uses it? Apparently he is an experienced gunner, too, as dad proudly pointed out. Liz, Santee
I have an 8-week-old son and if my son had drawings of guns and shooting people I would bring him in for an evaluation. I dont blame the school at all. If anything, I commend them for a job well done! - Ashley, Bay View Hills
Being a parent myself I would not let my family's rights be violated in anyway. But could understand where the school's policy is on these issues, and would talk to my kids about them. - Joe, Imperial Beach
It is a clear case of retaliation. The parents complained about the teacher. The teacher then finds the pictures in the kid's backpack. - Jamie, Carlsbad
I think suspension was an appropriate punishment. It is 2008 PEOPLE! We need to grow up. It starts with drawing a football player, then playing for the school team. What are the thoughts behind drawing a gun and also the shooting of them? What are the thoughts in that students head? Let it be known early so it doesnt become a situation overlooked. Enforce positivity -- not negativity. - Gerard, Lakeside
The punishment that the student was given was neither cruel nor unusual as the parent believes. The student actually deserves to be expelled from the school. Those types of drawings should be considered a threat against the school. If this was any other student, the parent would agree that the student deserves a more severe punishment. But, since the student is his son, he finds the punishment cruel and unusual. What does the parent think? - Tony, San Diego
I find that schools are trying to be over protective of their surroundings. I understand the issue with student threats on schools but most cases that happened in the past with shootings on campuses deals with emotionally unstable students. Ryan seems to be a typical teenage boy involved with the cartoon love of weapons. Many teenage boys (and YOUNGER) go through this at some time in their life. Maybe his future will be involved with armory and maybe not. The schools shouldn't hold students back from expressing themselves and this particular ruling is unfair to Ryan, his family and many other students across the nation. - Jenny, Santee
I think the suspension for Ryan Reynolds was fair and more than appropriate. I would never wish upon any child what we witnessed on March 5, 2001. To take behavior like his lightly would have been a major oversight on the school district's behalf and I would have been outraged to hear such a warning sign was overlooked by staff who lived the nightmare of a school shooting only 7 short years ago. . - Kristen, Santana High School Class of 2002, Santee
It is too bad that he has a father who is either stupid or completley clueless to why this school, for good reason, would be concerened, for obvious reasons about his drawings. - Nancy, Torrey Highlands
I am an alumni of Santana and was in attendance during the shooting. I don't view this child nor what he did as a threat. What the school should focus on is when the drawing was created to determine if the child was creating a nuisance; i.e. goofing off in class instead of focusing could be grounds for punishment, but suspension is a far cry. At most, these materials are inappropriate for school atmosphere and should have been confiscated for the parent's notification first. - Frank, El Cajon
I think today's school systems are being allowed to violate too many of our children's basic rights as stated in the constitution. Freedom of speech is not limited just to verbally speaking your opinion. The drawings this young man was suspended for are merely his way of speaking his mind. If he is being suspended for that, every child in a creative writing class that insinuates death through a poem, song, story, etc should be suspended as well. A drawing is in no way threatening the live's or well being of ANYONE! - Racheal, Oceanside
I think the school went too far. It's just a drawing the student made. - David, Chula Vista
I go to school with Ryan at Santana. He is in my third period class. He is a nice kid but I understand why he was suspended. Due to Santana's past, I think it was necessary. - Alex, Santee
The thing that bugs me is that the teacher went through the kid's backpack. Teachers do not have any right to do that. He was only expressing himself through drawing and it wasn't directed at anyone. I think the teacher and principal could have dealt with it in a better manner even though there was a shooting a decade ago. - Dunia, El Cajon
It's not the child's fault but what is the father thinking? That is why there is so much violence in the schools. The parents are not teaching better. The father should be punished -- not the child - Jeffrey, San Ysidro
I completely agree with the suspension of the student. Yes, the student has freedom of speech, but in the times we live in, we must err on the side of caution. Most normal students do NOT go around drawing guns or shooting other people. The parents need to really think if it's proper to take a young boy out to gun shows and have him draw pictures of killing people. I believe it's completely irresponsible of the parents and they should be embarrassed for themselves and their son. - Carlos, College Area
I'm a high school student in San Diego. And I know that many students do not do the right thing because they are influence by their friends. Even though this kid do drawings about guns, one does not knows what are his true feelings. I think that the district did the right thing because they should be prepared for the worst and not wait for the tragedy. "Class of 2009" - Alex, San Diego
Unbelievable...really unbelievable. San Diego will allow its police officers to shoot an innocent women and her son but won't allow a kid to doodle on a piece of paper. The "public school system" has become a joke. If I had a kid in that school, I'd be home schooling after this. - John, Imperial Beach
I wonder how the student's father would feel if his son had carried out the drawing situations? I think the school did the right thing. I applaud the parents of the student in South Carolina who turned in their son, who was going to blow up his high school. You just never know what is going on in the student's mind. - Maria, Chula Vista
Wow. I can't believe drawing guns can now get you suspended. Its pretty amazing how our freedoms of expression are slowly deteriorating. Whatever happened to the good ol' America we once knew? - Emanuel, San Ysidro
After watching the news on this and listening to the father say he's using freedom of speech. Umm no, what's next? He shows us his freedom of speech with his fathers gun? After seeing the pictures he drew, I think suspension is a good way to show kids that this is not funny and will not be tolerated. - Tate, Hillcrest
I Think It Is Very Unfair of a student being suspended for harmless drawing. The parents should appeal it to the school district. There is no threat out to nobody and frankly I think the school officials took it very exaggerated and should think twice before suspending kids for over-reacting reasons like such. - Eric, Solana Beach
Ryan should not have been suspended for his artwork. His art was in his backpack and there was no threat accompanying the art or even depicted within it. This is a clear example of how the educational system is flexing its muscle. - Dan, Imperial Beach
Will the PC overreaction ever end? Bring a gun to school, certainly not. Draw a picture, get a life Mr. superintendent! - Blake, Clairemont
I applaud superintendent Collins for taking a firm stand. These type of drawings depicting murder and violence are exactly the type of red flags we've been told to look for. If he didn't take action and this child became violent, he would be blamed for NOT taking action. - Elle, San Marcos
I feel the suspension is appropriate. If the school suspects ANY type of threat to ANYONE, they have to act. If they don't, and something does happen, everyone asks 'why wasn't anything done?'. If the parents are going to involve their children in gun shows, etc...they need to teach safety and when it is/isn't appropriate to discuss guns. And schools are not the place. This IS a wake-up call. Why would this student draw a picture of him shooting ANYONE? It is irrelevant that it is 'indirectly' aimed at ANYONE. I support the schools decision and find it disturbing that the parents think it's ok to make threatening drawings, direct or indirect. - Christina, San Diego
The kid just drew a gun, because his father is a gun enthusiast. I'm a current high school senior, and I have seen kids wear and draw graffiti, marijuana, and alcohol condoning stuff. Not to mention that they never get suspended. He shouldn't have been suspended for drawing a gun, the school went too far. - Teddy, Chula Vista
As a parent and with situations getting more and more out of control in schools, I feel your children can never be too safe. I understand that the boy sees guns as normal in his home, but that's were his drawings should stay -- at home. With children getting more and more violent at a younger age, parents need to understand that any and all violence, drawn, writen, or spoken, should be taken seriously. - Cindy, El Cajon
It would be easy to say that the drawing was innocent and childish, but the truth is we have a serious problem when parents are afraid to send their kids to school. I applaud the teacher and the school for taking action, and this reflects badly on the parents. The child is obviously not mature enough to be taken to gun shows. - Thomas, Chula Vista
I'm not sure that I agree with the student being suspended. However, I do believe that something should be done to bring awareness to the fact that certain images may be disturbing to others at the school site. Especially in light of the fact that there has been a violent incident at the school involving guns. I think the image is at least in poor taste. I believe the student has a right to express himself but can't he/she do it at home or at any other place than at school? On the other hand, I'm curious to know if the school has banned all images of guns on school campuses? What about images of guns in textbooks, magazines, and other publications that I'm sure students see on campus and in the classroom at times. If so, then there very well may be an argument to suspend the student for this drawing. Thank you very much! - Ruben, Linda Vista
This story is yet another in a long line that illustrate just how broken the educational system in this country has become. This falls into the same category as the story a few years ago when a kid of 5 or 6 was expelled for sexual harassment for kissing a girl at recess. We need to seriously re-evaluate our priorities and fire any school administrator that considers this kind of knee-jerk, over-reaction as acceptable. - Damon, Escondido
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